Senjem: No plans to move forward on racino

A proposal to allow casino-style betting at racetracks, known as racino, got a positive vote last week in committee. But that may be where the progress stops, Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem indicated on Thursday.

The leader said the idea, which he has pushed, lacks a majority of backers in the House and Senate.

"I think we are perhaps a little short right now...the stark reality is that would be difficult," Senjem, R-Rochester, said.

The measure awaits a vote in the Senate Rules committee, which Senjem chairs.

A Duluth native who just barely lost Virginia's GOP gubernatorial primary said that politicians have not gone far enough in condemning the left for violence during a rally of white nationalists in Charlottesville. "I think that the left is going to try to use this as an excuse to crack down on conservative free speech," said Corey Stewart. "I think they're going to try to use this as an excuse to remove more historical monuments."